Venture off the well-trekked trail with Shakti Kumaon Village Walk in the Himalayas. Less a hotel, more of a peak-to-peak walking trail, this high-altitude Shakti adventure has the option of linking three mountains lodges to reveal the remote villages and rugged beauty in India's Uttarakhand state. Each trip is fully customised to suit guests’ interests. A dedicated team will pack gourmet picnics and shepherd you past temples and terraces. At night, bed down in peak-facing cottages, fitted with a soft bed, private dining space, kitchenette and fireplace. But for the last word in luxury, combine it with a stay at high-end sister lodge Shakti 360° Leti.

Location

Address

Shakti Kumaon’s village walks take place in the Northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, amid the soaring peaks of the Himalayas.

Planes

Flights from New Delhi arrive at domestic hub Pantnagar Airport (a four-hour drive from the hotel) and are about an hour’s journey. Shakti's rates include all transfers.

Trains

Kathgodam Station in Kumaon, a three-hour drive from the village, has connections to Delhi and other major cities in northern India. Shakti arranges all transfers for free.

Automobiles

The village is an hour’s drive from the nearest town, Almora, but ramshackle mountain roads and the remote location make driving inadvisable.

Worth getting out of bed for

The possibilities for each day’s activities are as limitless as the skies around Shakti Kumaon. Staff can arrange for as few or as many adventures as guests desire, but the ideal day starts at sunrise. Head out for literal sun salutations as it rises over the jagged, snow-capped peaks. After the downward-facing dogs are complete, request fortifying chai, then relax before a healthy breakfast of yoghurt, granola and local fruit. From there, take off on a hike to explore the Himalayas on foot. Meander through nearby villages or huff and puff along the vertiginous trails to earn the picnic lunch prepped by your private chef. In the afternoon, kick off your hiking boots and read by a crackling fire in your lodge, or request a cooking lesson to steal the secrets to each night’s impressive Indian feast.

Reviews

Anonymous review

Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from these cosy mountain lodges in India and unpacked their hiking boots and prayer flags, a full account of their breath-of-fresh-air retreat will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Shakti Kumaon Village Walks in the Himalayas…

High tea takes on a new meaning at Shakti Kumaon Village Walks, where your locally grown cuppa is sipped while gazing out over snow-draped vistas. Less a hotel than a guided expedition into the Indian Himalayas, Shakti seamlessly introduces guests to remote villages, far from the typical tourist track. Depending on personal preferences and experience levels, itineraries include visits to local villages to immerse guests in north-Indian culture, hikes to snow-capped peaks far from the typical trekking trails or saluting the sun with guided morning yoga. Though Shakti specialises in travels to remote outposts and untouched natural reserves, the team does not hold back on luxuries. Guests travel with a private chef, guide and staff of porters to ease the expedition; each night, you'll retreat to one of three cottages, each with a downy bed facing panoramic, peak-poked views. Meals are crafted to sate any craving, touching on Tibetan, Indian and European culinary traditions; dishes use mountainside-sown ingredients in hearty curries and stews to fortify guests for the new day’s adventures. They’re the perfect prelude to a meditative tea on top of the world.

The Guestbook

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